Manchester goes electric

Plug your cars in from 2011. Will it catch on?

Greater Manchester is getting £7m of funding – half of it from the government – to put 300 plug-in points across the region, designed to encourage the use of electric cars.

From 2011, you might find the giant plugs in places like the Trafford Centre, MediaCity, the airport and areas around the city centre. Boroughs including Stockport and Oldham could also get the special charge points.

Local council bosses applied for the funding in September and were given the good news today. From a consumer’s point of view, manufacturers such as Vauxhall, Nissan, Lotus and Jaguar Land Rover, are also keen to give an incentive to potential buyers, up to a value of £5,000.

It’s all part of the green strategy to offset our carbon use. Councillor Dave Goddard, chair of the Greater Manchester environment commission, says that electric cars are ‘a fantastic way to keep Greater Manchester on the move in the most low carbon way possible.’

But would you drive an electric car? What would see you trade in the reliable diesel guzzler for a next-generation car that you need to systematically charge up like a massive mobile phone?

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The British public has in the past shown it's ready to embrace new technology and take practical steps to adopt a lifestyle kinder to the environment, so we could really be at the start of something big."

Now it’s down to our regional leaders to work on plans to create a number of ‘park and plug’ areas throughout Manchester, where electric and hybrid vehicles will be able to charge.

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